Recent Articles In

December 2017

8 Steps to getting on the road despite poor credit history How do you make the best of a bad credit* situation when you need to buy a car? Poor credit may pose some unwanted challenges but there are many ways to maximize your chances of getting approved for an auto loan, and a competitive rate for your circumstances. Here’s how to approach it in eight straightforward steps. 1. Know what to expect It helps to know up front that consumers with bad credit typically encounter higher interest rates than those with better credit and so, if approved,… Read More

December 21 is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and, for drivers, less is more – but not in a good way. Fewer daylight hours on the winter solstice, and continually throughout winter, mean more nighttime driving and an overall increase in driving risk. National Safety Council figures show vehicle death rates are three times higher at night than in the day, but there are ways to protect yourself and your vehicle. These tips will help you safely steer through the gloom. Weather changes associated with nighttime may hamper driving. Shorter days can mean… Read More

In an expanding field of eco-friendly cars, the Honda Clarity is a standout performer. The winner of the Green Car of the Year Award, it beat one of the strongest lineups in years with a special mix of planet-friendly technology. The Clarity is the first car to offer consumers a choice of electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell options. “To its credit, Honda has now accomplished what no other automaker has – offering all three of these ‘green’ powertrains in a single model, with the capability of readily shifting production from one to another to meet future demand,"… Read More

Compare the pros and cons to help you decide The soaring popularity of leasing in recent years may have you asking whether it is better to lease or buy your next car. Once associated with luxury cars, leasing has become mainstream and reached an all-time high of 4.3 million vehicles in 2016. So, should you join these millions of drivers and enjoy a monthly car payment that’s typically lower than an auto loan payment? An offshoot of the current leasing trend worth considering is the surge in off-lease vehicles entering the used-car market, which is lowering prices to the… Read More

With the onset of winter and the holidays fast approaching, many of us are likely to have wintry road expeditions affecting our holiday plans. Whether you’ll just be driving across town or your travel plans have more in common with Santa’s, getting on the road at this time can be dangerous. But with some simple pointers, like accelerating and decelerating slowly when in snow, increasing your following distance and knowing your brakes, you can immediately improve your driving. Here are some safe winter driving tips for when the weather turns against you. Vehicle preparation The cold itself can… Read More

Everyone has a story about buying a car. Whether it was the first or 15th, it’s probably an experience that will never be forgotten. When my father was recently looking to replace his car, I tagged along and watched the process he went through, and learned a lot. The dealership experience We really relied on the dealership staff to steer us toward the right product – one that truly met our needs. Just because we had a personal relationship with the particular dealer we visited did not mean we didn’t go through “a process.” Things such as… Read More